Why "seems fine" is not safe after a car strike
Adrenaline is a powerful drug. In the minutes after a traumatic event, elevated adrenaline can mask pain, maintain blood pressure, and keep an injured animal moving — while serious internal injuries progress underneath. A dog that trots over to you wagging its tail after being struck by a car may have a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, or a ruptured bladder that is not yet causing visible symptoms.
The injuries that are most dangerous after a car strike are often the ones you cannot see.
1. Approach your dog carefully — a dog in pain may bite even someone they know.
2. If your dog cannot walk, use a blanket as a stretcher. Keep them still.
3. Drive directly to Frisco Emergency Pet Care — 11201 Preston Road, Frisco, TX.
4. Call (469) 287-6767 on the way so we can have a team ready.
Internal injuries from vehicle strikes
Pulmonary contusions (bruised lungs)
The most common serious injury from blunt trauma. The lung tissue itself is bruised and bleeds internally. Breathing difficulty may be mild at first and worsen over 12 to 24 hours as inflammation increases. A dog that was breathing normally immediately after impact may develop significant respiratory distress hours later.
Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Air leaks into the chest cavity, causing the lung to collapse. Signs include labored breathing, rapid shallow breaths, and reluctance to lie down. Treatment involves removing the air from the chest cavity.
Diaphragmatic hernia
The diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest and abdomen) tears during impact, allowing abdominal organs — intestines, stomach, liver — to herniate into the chest cavity and compress the lungs. This can cause immediate or delayed respiratory distress and requires surgical repair.
Internal bleeding
Lacerations to the liver, spleen, or kidneys can cause significant internal hemorrhage. A dog may be stable immediately after the accident and then deteriorate rapidly as blood accumulates in the abdomen.
Pelvic and limb fractures
Often visible from limping or inability to use a limb, but some fractures — particularly pelvic fractures — may not be obvious without imaging. Pelvic fractures can also injure the bladder and urethra.
What to expect when you arrive
Trauma patients are assessed immediately. We evaluate airway, breathing, and circulation first, and address life-threatening issues before a full examination. Chest X-rays are often the first imaging performed to assess for pneumothorax or pulmonary contusions. Abdominal ultrasound (FAST scan) can detect free fluid (blood) in the abdomen rapidly. Blood work assesses organ function and overall status. Treatment is then guided by what we find.